Method and apparatus for forming apertures in blood vessels

Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising:

• a penetration head adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel;
• a base section;
• at least one cutting surface defined on at least one of said penetration head and said base section and defining a tissue receptacle for receiving a plug of said blood vessel wall;
• and
• a shaft operatively connected to and configured to bring said penetration head and said base section and operative towards each other, to effect a removal of a plug from said blood vessel into said tissue receptacle.

Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising:

• a penetration head adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel;
• a base section;
• a cutting surface defined on at least one of said penetration head and said base section;
• an anvil surface defined on at least one of said penetration head and said base section;
• and
• a shaft operatively connected to and configured to bring said penetration head and said base section towards each other, to effect a removal of a plug from said blood vessel by cutting action of said cutting surface and by anvil cutting action of said anvil surface.

Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising:

• a penetration head adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel;
• a base section;
• a cutting surface defined on at least one of said penetration head and said base section;
• an anvil surface defined on at least one of said penetration head and said base section;
• and
• a shaft operatively connected to and configured to bring said penetration head and said base section towards each other, to effect an anvil action between said cutting surface and said anvil surface, wherein at least one of said anvil surface and said cutting surface rotate relative to said blood vessel.

Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising:

• a penetration head adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel;
• a base section;
• a cutting surface defined on at least one of said penetration head and said base section;
• a resilient anvil portion having a surface defined on at least one of said penetration head and said base section;
• and
• a shaft operatively connected to and operative to bring said penetration head and said base section towards each other, to effect an anvil action between said cutting surface and said anvil surface.

A deformable hole former, comprising:

• a base section;
• and
• a deformable penetration head comprising a section formed of a resilient material, said head being adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel and adapted to deform to a configuration with a larger diameter after said penetration than during said penetrating;
• and
• a shaft operatively connected to and operative to bring said penetration head and said base section towards each other, to effect a removal of a plug of tissue between said penetration head and said base section.

A deformable hole former, comprising:

• a base section;
• and
• a deformable penetration head comprising at least one of a radially expanding spiral, a distorting disc and a plurality of radially extending arms, said head being adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel and adapted to deform to a configuration with a larger cross-section than during said penetrating;
• and
• a shaft operatively connected to and operative to bring said penetration head and said base section towards each other, to effect a removal of a plug of tissue between said penetration head and said base section.

Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising:

• two elements that cooperate to remove blood vessel tissue when moved towards each other;
• a handle;
• and
• a visual indicator embedded in said handle, that indicates a degree of relative motion of said elements.